The sentence will run concurrently, beginning from March 3, 2005 when they were first remanded in prison custody.

The judge said: “I hold that sufficient facts exist beyond reasonable doubt upon which the court could infer conspiracy in the present circumstances and hold all the defendants guilty accordingly.

“I therefore find each of the defendants guilty of conspiracy as charged in Count 1.

“In conclusion, I hold in respect of Count 1 that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants are guilty of the offence of conspiracy to commit robbery contrary to Section 403 (A) of the Criminal Code.

“I hereby convict each of them accordingly.

“I further hold that the prosecution has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendants are guilty of the offence of robbery simpliciter contrary to Section 402 (1) of the Criminal Code and I hereby convict them accordingly.”

The defendants were said to have conspired together to commit robbery on November 17, 2002 along Ikorodu and Ijebu-Ode Expressway, Ikorodu, Lagos.

The prosecution said they robbed a lorry loaded with George and Lace textile materials.

Justice Oyewole said the fourth defendant (Williams), though not physically at the crime scene, was part of the planning, execution and disposal of the robbery proceeds.

“He had a common intention with the others who were physically present,” he said.

After listening to the defendants’ lawyers’ plea to temper justice with mercy (alucutus), Justice Oyewole said the fact they were policemen was an “aggravating factor” to impose the maximum penalty.

He rejected the request that the sentence be mitigated as the defendants have been in prison for about 10 years.

“I’ve duly considered the alucutus. However, four of five defendants are policemen trained to protect the public and not otherwise.

“This in itself is an aggravating factor in handing out the sentence.

“The image of the police should not be dented to the extent that members of the public will begin to see police checkpoints as armed robbers’ locations,” he said.